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Transfer Credit (graduate)

At the graduate level, credits earned at other regionally accredited colleges or universities prior to enrollment at RISD are accepted only in the Departments of Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Interior Architecture, and within those departments the credit may be applied only in limited circumstances as determined by the department. Normally, a maximum of twelve credits may be transferred in for these departments. The credit must be approved for transfer by the student’s Department Head, the Dean of Graduate Studies and the Divisional Dean, and a grade of “B” or better is needed. In all other departments, credit may not be transferred in, whether the course(s) was taken prior to enrollment at RISD or after. In certain circumstances, a student’s Department head may grant an exception to this policy, provided the exception is approved by the Dean of Graduate Studies and the Divisional Dean, but usually no more than six credits may be transferred. Credit is never awarded based on portfolio reviews. Grades from transferred courses are not recorded on a student’s RISD transcript nor are they included in the calculation of the RISD GPA. Residency requirements for the degree are not reduced on the basis of transferred credit.